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Why Can’t I Transfer My Ultimate Rewards Points?

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Our Reader Question today comes from Victor, who sent us an email wondering why…

On the Ultimate Rewards website, when I hover over the ‘Use Points’ menu there is no option to ‘Transfer to Travel Partners.’ How can I transfer my UR points to United or another airline?

TPG Reader Victor

Now, a problem like this can be difficult to troubleshoot, since I can’t see exactly what you’re seeing on your computer or mobile device and I don’t want to start asking which browser you’re using or what model of MacBook because that road leads to endless frustration for both of us. But in this case, Victor was kind enough to send along a screenshot of what he sees when he’s on the Chase Ultimate Rewards site. It looks like this:

Sure enough, Victor doesn’t appear to have an option to transfer his points. In contrast, when I sign into the Ultimate Rewards portal, I see this:

So what’s going on here? Well, savvy TPG readers may have already noticed the other major difference in these two screenshots. Do you see it?

Take a look at the logos in the upper left corner. In Victor’s screenshot, he’s using a Chase Freedom or Chase Freedom Unlimited card, while my own screenshot shows a Chase Ink card.

So for Victor to see the option to transfer, he must have either a Chase Sapphire Preferred, a Chase Sapphire Reserve, an Ink Business Preferred or an older Chase card that might no longer be offered but is still transfer-eligible.

But there’s one other quirk. It’s possible Victor already has one of these other cards… but in order to transfer, he also must be signed in to the Ultimate Rewards portal using one of them.

When you first log in to Ultimate Rewards, if you have more than one Chase card you’ll be asked which card you want to access. In order to transfer points to travel partners, you have to choose one of your premium cards, not your Freedom card.

Hope this helps clear up any confusion and thanks for your question, Victor! We’re now answering questions three times a week here at The Points Guy, so please tweet @thepointsguy, message us on Facebook or send an email to info@thepointsguy.com if you have any questions you’d like us to address.

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Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

Disclaimer: The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser’s responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.

Our points-obsessed staff uses a plethora of credit cards on a daily basis. If anyone on our team
wouldn't recommend an offer to a friend or family member, we wouldn't recommend it on The Points Guy
either. Our opinions are our own, and have not been reviewed, approved, or endorsed by our advertising
partners.

Advertiser Disclosure

Many of the credit card offers that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which ThePointsGuy.com receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. Please view our advertising policy page for more information.

Editorial Note: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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See PRIVACY POLICY.

The credit card offers that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which ThePointsGuy.com receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. Please view our advertising policy page for more information.

Editorial Note: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.